ID :
406049
Sat, 05/07/2016 - 07:31
Auther :

Government continues suppressing human trafficking

BANGKOK, May 7 (TNA) -- The Thai government has put efforts in suppressing human trafficking issues in the country as the United States' State Department is going to evaluate Thailand’s status in June, said Maitri Inthusut, permanent secretary for Social Development and Human Security. The State Department has downgraded Thailand to a Tier 3 rating in the 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report in June 2014 and has maintained its lowest raking to date. Mr Maitri said every Thai government agency has cooperated with each other to tackle human trafficking problem under the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy. Under the government’s policy, stiffer law against those involved with human trafficking would face heavier legal punishment while a special agency has been set up to deal with the issue only, he said. Thailand is the “only country among members of ASEAN” to have established this kind of extraordinary government agency to deal with the problem, said Mr Maitri. Despite the harsher punishment, human trafficking cases rose to 317 from 280 in 2014. Protection given to victims of human trafficking racket is the key in which the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has been followed as it has set up eight protection units -- four each for men and women – nationwide, said Mr Maitri. In 2015, a total of 471 Thai and foreign victims were rescued and given protection, he said. The Thai government first sent a report on its achievement in human trafficking suppression in the kingdom to the US government on January 20 this year and another one on March 31, he said, adding that his ministry would continue suppressing and giving protection to the victims by adhering to international human rights principle. (TNA)

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